Middle East News Spotlight 11-29-11
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Rockets Fired Into N. Israel
Israel Retaliates
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Large Explosion Heard in Isfahan, Iran
A large explosion was reported Monday afternoon in the Iranian city of Isfahan. The city is home to a nuclear facility that produces enriched uranium. Iranian officials are issuing conflicting reports of the incident but no details.
Isfahan is also home to Iran's largest facility for research and development of ballistic missiles. Multiple reports said the blast did not emanate from the nuclear facility. There remain unconfirmed reports of two explosions.
Mideast analysts familiar with Iran's nuclear program said that the blast's intensity suggested an attack on Iran's nuclear-related missile development program, probably by Mossad.
More information, LINK HERE. Additional coverage, LINK HERE.
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Iran Explosion Update:
Iran Says: "Military Mishap"
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Israel Moves Missiles
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Israel's Worsening Security Dilemma
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Arab League Imposes Tough
Sanctions Against Syria
Members of the 22 Nation, Arab League voted over the weekend to impose tough economic sanctions against Syria. Full story details, LINK HERE.
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Arabs On Military Alert After
Slapping Sanctions on Syria
The Arab League has slapped sanctions on Syria after the Assad regime failed to respond to the League's demands for Assad to allow hundreds of peace observers into Syria to monitor and prevent further bloodshed against Syrian civilians. League sanctions included a cut-off of transactions with Syria's central bank and withdrawal of Arab funding from building projects.
In the wake of the League's actions, 7 Arab nations have placed their armed forces on a heightened state of alert for Syrian military retaliation.
Neighboring nations along Syria's borders are especially concerned with Syrian retaliation. Turkey has heightened its readiness with 3 armored brigades posted along the Syrian border. Turkish Air Forces and the Turkish Navy are on standby for military aggression by Syria.
Israel has places armored brigades all along its northern borders with both Lebanon and Syria in anticipation of military aggression by Hezbollah and Syrian forces.
Iran has dispatched 150 Iranian Revolutionary Guards specialists to Damascus for overland transport into Lebanon to join Hezbollah forces in bringing out a portion of Hezbollah's rocket and missile arsenals.
There are reports that Turkey and Qatar have begun airlifting "Libyan Freedom Fighters" into the region to assist Syrian rebels in fighting the Assad regime.
Russia has begun delivering new Pantsir anti-aircraft missiles into Syria to prevent the Arab League or western nations from implementing a no-fly zone over Syria. Russia is also shipping the Yakhont SS-26 missiles providing a shore-to-ship coastal defense against any naval warships that might try to blockade the Syrian coastline.
On Friday, (11/25) the Syrian military's high command issued veiled threats against the 'enemies of Syria' deemed responsible for a terror attack that killed 6 of Syria's elite air force pilots. The threat intimated that Syria would attack foreign nations involved with interfering in Syria's internal affairs as well as striking Israel.
More details, LINK HERE.
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Turkish & Syrian Ground Troops
Deploy Along Common Borders
Turk Commander Visits Syrian Border
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Lebanese Stage Protest Rally
Against Hezbollah and Syria
Large scale protests took place in the streets of Tripoli and northern Lebanon, denouncing Hezbollah and Syria. It was part of an effort to support Syrian rebels and defy the Hezbollah-controlled Lebanese government. More details, LINK HERE.
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Israel Hit by Hamas Rocket
IDF launches Air Strikes on Gaza
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Fierce Fighting in Syria
Rebels Stage Attacks Saturday
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Reports of Child Torture in Syria
By the Assad Regime
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UN Accuses Syria of
Crimes Against Humanity
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West Demands UN Action on Syria
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US Carrier Off Syrian Coast
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Russian Warships Patrol Syrian Coast
To Prevent Western Interference in Syria
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Russian Aircraft Carrier To
Eastern Mediterranean For
Joint Exercises With Israel
The Russian Aircraft Carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov is headed to the eastern Mediterranean Sea for joint maneuvers with the Israeli Navy in the area off Cyprus considered to be a natural gas drilling zone.
The joint maneuvers are scheduled to begin on Monday (11/28) and last for a week. There has been some speculation that the carrier might be diverted to join 3 other Russian warships in an effort by the Russian Navy to stand up against the American Aircraft Carrier, the USS H.W. Bush, (and its accompanying strike force) which is now steaming off Syrian shores ready to intervene in Syria's revolution. More details, LINK HERE.
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Iran Threatens to Strike Turkey
IF Israel or U.S. Attacks Iran
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Turkish PM Undergoes Surgery
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Iran Plans Naval Drills in Int'l Waters
In Sea of Oman and Indian Ocean
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NATO Airstrike Kills 24 Pakistan Soldiers
Triggers Crisis in Relations with Pakistan
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Iran Expels British Ambassador
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Day of Reckoning For Israel in 2012?
Netanyahu's Gov't May Collapse in 2012
2 events loom large for Israel's political status quo in 2012. Either of these two events could topple the Netanyahu coalition government. These looming events could prompt Netanyahu to launch military action against Iran before the end of 2011. For more details, LINK HERE.
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Chinese General Says:
"China Won't Hesitate to Protect Iran
Even with a Third World War."
YouTube News Video
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Kuwait Gov't Collapses
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